Everything you need to know about escort cards and place cards

The first thing you should know is that escort cards and place cards aren't just for weddings.

They can be used at any formal seated event, and to get the most out of them it's best to know why and how to use them.

To start, the escort card is used to direct guests to their predetermined table and the place card is to assign a guest a specific seat. Escort cards, especially when you're not having a place card, also work like a name tag and give guests the chance to get to know each other's names.

While assigning specific seats can seem a bit like micromanaging, it can be helpful when you have groups of people who are unfamiliar with each other. It also cuts down on seating time as guests know exactly where to go and are not shifting around looking for a seat.

Escort card ideas: ways to seat your guests

Place cards for random seating

One way is to simply let fate decide. You can try something like having a bowl filled with different colored stones or pieces of paper. Those with the same colors are invited to sit together at the corresponding table.

Formally arranged escort cards

When entertaining business associates at home, the head seats, at either end of the table, are taken by the host and hostess. At a round or square table, the head seat is wherever the host wants to sit.

At a rectangular table, the head seats are at the ends of the table. Male guests, ranked according to their importance, are seated respectively to the right and left of the hostess. Female guests, according to their rank, are seated to the right and left of the host. The most important guests occupy the right-hand seats, with the second most important guests, if any, occupying the left-hand seats.

At a business lunch or dinner where spouses are not present, guests are more likely to be seated in accordance with their importance. The guest of honor is seated to the right of the host, with a second guest of honor seated to the left. Less important guests are arranged, often according to rank, around the table. Rank is judged by the following:

1. Visiting foreign dignitary or customer
2. Guest with military or government rank
3. Elderly guest
4. Guest with distinguished career or other important achivement
5. Guest who is celebrating an occasion such as a promotion, transfer, or birthday

Seating based on interests

You'll want to seat people in a way that is most congenial to conversation. A great way to do this is by seating based on mutual interests. Some good questions to consider are:

1. Do they have a need to discuss business together?
2. Do they have hobbies or interests in common?
3. Do they have professions in common?
4. Do they have marital/single status in common? (Perhaps you're into matchmaking, although some would be irritated by your attempt if they were to figure it out!)
5. Do they like one another or not? (Be careful of seating people you know have an animosity towards one another close together.)

Escort cards FAQ

What is an escort card?

Escort cards are small cards used to inform guests of their seating arrangement at events. They typically display the guest's name and their table number, allowing them to easily locate their designated table.

What's the difference between escort cards and place cards?

Escort cards provide guests with information about table numbers, while place cards indicate individual seats at an assigned table. Place cards are used when event hosts require a specific seating arrangement, whereas escort cards allow for more flexible seating.

How to address escort cards?

At formal events, the full name and official title of the guests is often written on the escort cards. At more informal events and those with a small number of participants this rule may be relaxed, but names and table numbers should always be easy to read, and double-checked for accuracy.

What are flat vs folded escort cards?

Flat escort cards are simple and easy to read. Including the table number on the front alongside the guest name will enable guests to instantly see where they are sitting.

Folded escort cards are standing cards with more surfaces and therefore more scope for personalization and decoration. Typically, the guest's names are on the front and the table numbers are inside or on the reverse.

How big are escort cards? What size are they when folded?

Generally escort cards measure around 2.5 x 3.5 inches, and 2.5 x 1.75 inches when folded, but this varies depending on the event and the design choices made by the hosts.

How do you lay out escort cards?

Escort cards can be laid out alphabetically, and arranged either by guest's first or last names, depending on the event. They can also be laid out in numerical order, using the table number.

However you choose to seat your guests and whichever escort cards you plan on using, zkipster can help. Build detailed guest profiles, create dynamic, color-coded seating charts, send check-in messages to guests with details of their tables, and much more.

Header image: Future is Brilliant Event with Jane Goodall and Brilliant Earth at The Times Square EDITION, NYC. Photo by Miguel McSongwe / BFA.com ⓒ BFA 2024